A PENSIONER escaped death by just inches when a metal car park barrier smashed through his windscreen.

The seven-metre long gate – weighing a quarter of a ton and designed to stop ram-raiders – hit Kenneth Compton’s Renault Scenic.

The barrier speared through the windscreen on the driver’s side with such force it bent the roof.

Yet miraculously, Mr Compton, 80, from Great Barr, Birmingham, was struck “only a glancing blow” as he drove out of the car park – though he suffered head injuries including a fractured eye socket.

It was absolutely terrifying but I’m OK now. I just want to move on now and forget all about it

Kenneth Compton

He said: “It was absolutely terrifying but I’m OK now. I just want to move on now and forget all about it.”

His wife Ada, 82, added: “When I saw the picture of the car, I was horrified. He still has a few dizzy spells – but we’re just glad he’s still here. He is very lucky to be alive.”

A report concluded the owners of the barrier at the Gala Bingo hall in nearby Erdington, had not secured the barrier with a padlock.

Investigators found locks had been used previously but may have rusted and been removed in the lead-up to the incident on June 3, 2011.

Gala Leisure Limited was fined £25,000 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court last week after admitting two health and safety breaches. It was also ordered to pay £2,612 in costs.

Mark Croxford, Birmingham City Council’s head of environmental health, said that Mr Compton could easily have been killed. He added: “Everybody was surprised it wasn’t much worse. Even at five miles an hour, being hit by that sort of barrier could be fatal.”

Councillor Barbara Dring said after last Friday’s hearing: “Gala and other companies who use security barriers need to make sure that lessons are learned from this case.”